Hummingbirds Hover Over Bright Red Flowers...

Can you imagine the image to the right is real? Well, it is. The hands belong to a women by the name of Abagail Alfano from Pine, Louisiana.

She has been studying Hummers for quite some time as she and her husband live in a Hummingbird Fly Zone.

She took out a red dish filled with sugar water and low and behold, even got to touch them. Light as a feather, she claims.

Click on the images to enlarge.

Some of the Species

Did you know that there are over 330 species in the Western Hemisphere, with 16 species nesting in the US and southern Canada?

• Ruby-throated, east of the Rockies
• Costa's Blue-throated, broad-billed, in the southwest United States
• Rufous and Black-chinned, in the west United States
• Anna's, along the Pacific Coast

Did you know?

...despite their small size, hummingbirds are territorial and will drive away rival hummingbirds and even hawks?

...they are not afraid of humans?

...often hummingbirds raise two or three broods a season?

...the female hummingbird lays two pea-size eggs, which hatch about two weeks later?

...the most brilliant colored hummers are the males?

...hummingbirds must eat every 10 to 15 minutes?

...the hummingbird's heart rate is 1,260 a minute and a human's heart beats on average 70 times a minute?

...the hummer is barely heavier than a dime?

...a hummer is capable of flying non-stop across 600 miles of open water?

...their wing beat is 80 times a second?

Attracting Hummingbirds

Attracting Hummers to your yard is easier than you might think. This spring as I was watering my Nicotiana a Ruby-throated Hummingbird rested itself right beside me...fluttering away...for what must have been at least 30 seconds. Long enough for me to once again become fascinated with these hungry hummers.

Arriving from the tropics to the prairies by mid May, these hummers are starving so a mixture of sugar water is always sure to please. Make sure to keep the solution fresh as Hummers won't stay around long with spoiled food.

Hummingbirds see colors the same way as humans, but they do not have a sense of smell. It is the bright colors, like red or a hot orange that they are drawn to. Whether the flower is large or small, as long as the tubluar blooms are nectar filled.

Can you see the hummer in the above image? Hovering over the Salvia Lady In Red in my garden. Not the best image, but they move so quick! In fact, they will come and go several times in a day to the plants they know about and in the case of Abagail, they can be very tame.

Of all of the birds, only the hummers are able to fly up, down, sideways, backward or remain stationary as they suck nectar from a flower.

To make Hummingbird Nectar

• dissolve one part white sugar in four parts boiling water
• fill your feeder(s) only 1/4 full until the birds discover your feeder(s)
• refrigerate the rest of the solution
• change the solution often as it ferments within 2 to 3 days in hot weather
• remember to clean the feeder(s) several times. I clean mine every time I put in a new solution, especially if it's hot weather as the feeder(s) can get moldy
• by keeping the feeder(s) clean, you also discourage the wasps and bees that can fly about, especially for us in late August
• place feeder(s) in a sheltered, shady location

Female Hummers require extra protein and other nutrients so they also munch on those pesky gnats, aphids and spiders that lurk on your plants.

Plants That Attract Hummers

Besides incorporating plants within your flower beds for the Hummingbirds, remember that containers, window boxes and hanging baskets (in front of your kitchen window) make great enticements.

As I mentioned above, Hummingbirds have no sense of smell so they are not attracted to the most fragrant flowers but rather to their color and tubular blossoms to accommodate their long needle beaks. They are most attracted to blooms that hang downward since they hover as they eat.

And finally, Hummers are most active in the heat of the summer. As the temperature cools, so does the flight of the Hummingbird.

• pots/window boxes filled with Red Impatiens or Begonias
• Ajuga Bronze Beauty
• Ajuga Chocolate Chip
• Nicotiana or the Tobacco Plant as it is sometimes called
• Snapdragons
• of course the hanging Fuchsia baskets
• Petunias
• Daisy Becky
• Nasturtiums
• Coral Bells
• Butterfly Bush
• Begonia
• Bee Balm/Monarda
• Coreopsis Moonbeam
• Salvia Lady In Red
• Penstemon
• Phlox Rubymine
• Virgina Creeper Vine
• Salvia Victoria Blue
• Salvia Black and Blue
• Sedum Autumn Joy
• Trumpet Vine

A Hummingbird Flower Garden

If you just have a small space, like a sunny corner spot why not try planting just a few perennials to attract the lovely hummers. For instance here are 7 plants that would make a great combination Hummingbird Garden:

• As the back ground center plant one Butterfly Bush or (Buddleja 'Nanho Blue')
• To the right of the Butterfly Bush plant three Daisies the 'Becky' variety.
• To the left of the Butterfly Bush plant three Penstemon, 'Husker Red' variety.

Remember, no solider rows, stagger the Daisies and Penstemon like you are drawing the letter V.

Next plant the following 4 perennials in front of the above again using the V planting method. See diagram.

• In front of the Penstemon plant three Phlox Rubymine variety.
• In front of the Phlox plant three Monarda 'Petite Delight' variety.
• Beside the Monarda, plant three Coreopsis 'Moonbeam' variety.
• Behind the Moonbeam and in front of the Becky Daisy, plant the Sedum, Autumn Joy.

The above number of plants would fill approximately a 6 ft. by 10 ft. area. The links to the suggested perennials are listed above.

If you are interested in purchasing Hummingbird Feeders, please visit my Garden Store for a great selection and safe online purchasing.

How Do You Attract Hummingbirds?

Do you have a great story to tell about attracting Hummingbirds to your gardens? What do you plant to attract the hummers? Share it!

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